Pages tagged "sports broadcasts"

The Australian Christian Lobby has welcomed the Prime Minister’s crackdown on the promotion of betting odds during sports broadcasts.

ACL Managing Director Lyle Shelton said the television industry’s proposed curbs to live odds promotion should be extended to include a total ban on all gambling advertising before, during and after sporting broadcasts.

This was the main recommendation in ACL’s submissions last week to Free TV Australia and the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA).

“It is not healthy for children to be socialised into gambling through sports betting advertising,” Mr Shelton said.

“So many parents are keen for their kids to be active in sport because it has always been a teacher of positive character values such as perseverance and teamwork. The encroachment of gambling into sports broadcasting undermines this.”

Mr Shelton noted that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott had earlier this month said if the Coalition was elected it would ban live odds promotion during sports broadcasts.

“It is great to see bi-partisan support for the option of legislation as the television industry does not have a good track record in enforcing its voluntary codes.”